Bulgarian defense industry marks growing export

published on 7/7/11 11:55 AM

Bulgarian military production is fully competitive on the world market and it is expected that export towards EU and NATO countries would increase threefold.

Photo: arsenal-bg.com

Export of products of the Bulgarian defense industry during the past year has grown 2 times and is comparable to export of electricity from Bulgaria to neighboring countries, Minister of Economy Traicho Traikov has said during a conference dedicated to the future of defense industry in Bulgaria. He pointed out that the hi-tech products made by highly qualified experts form the main part of the export. The Bulgarian strategy for development of the defense industry was presented at the forum, in which NATO officials and representatives of the European Defense Agency (EDA) also took part. The document aims at creating good conditions for the development of the high-tech military production sector. The new project has been developed in accordance to the European Strategy for defense-technological industrial base and Bulgarian production would be aimed at the European market.

Here is what Economy Minister Traicho Traikov said at the forum:

“Bulgaria aims at development of a versatile and modern defense industry that is to allow us to easily find our place in situations like the present in Libya,” the Minister added. “The sector was not up to date with the modern trends and new challenges. Development of the Bulgarian defense industry is also related to our strategy for development of high-tech production and innovations in general.”

Bulgaria is the first country with its own vision for the defense industry, EDA representative John Mattiussi said during the conference. Brian Chulick from Aquisioniot Support Group backed the priorities of the Bulgarian strategy. Representatives of the European Association of Aerospace and Defense Industries (ASD) said that Bulgaria might triple its 10 % export of military production towards EU and NATO during the next year.

According to Bulgarian Minister of Defense Anyu Angelov, Bulgarian companies have the capacity to work for the Ministry as well as for other EU and NATO Member States.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Anyu Angelov pointed out that in 2010 the ministry has paid 174 million euro to Bulgarian producers of military equipment and about 82 million euro to foreign companies. Minister Angelov confirmed that new arms would be bought for the Bulgarian army after 2013 from Bulgarian producers. Modernization will start first among the special army forces.

“Bulgarian companies have the capacity for selling products to the Bulgarian army and EU and NATO countries,” Minister Angelov pointed out. “Few months ago a procedure for delivery of equipment for the Bulgarian contingent in Afghanistan started. It was conducted by the NATO Agency for Maintenance and Support. Companies from all over Europe took part but finally a Bulgarian producer offering the highest quality at lowest price was chosen. We expect that Bulgarian companies would also be hired for modernization of 36 Mi 17 Russian helicopters, owned by other NATO Member States,” the Minister added.

Translated by Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Tanya Harizanova

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Bulgarian defense industry marks growing export

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